diff --git a/content/en/blog/2026/deprecating-opencensus-compatibility.md b/content/en/blog/2026/deprecating-opencensus-compatibility.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..b1f3b1ac14b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/en/blog/2026/deprecating-opencensus-compatibility.md @@ -0,0 +1,84 @@ +--- +title: Deprecating OpenCensus compatibility requirements +linkTitle: Deprecating OpenCensus compatibility +date: 2026-06-23 +author: + '[Krishna Chaitanya Kalluri](https://github.com/Krishnachaitanyakc) (Meta)' +issue: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/5138 +sig: Specification +cSpell:ignore: Chaitanya Kalluri Krishna +--- + +On June 12, 2026, the OpenTelemetry Specification project merged +[PR #5138](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/5138), +deprecating OpenCensus compatibility requirements in the specification. + +This change updates the specification to match where the ecosystem already is: +[OpenCensus has been archived since July 31, 2023](/blog/2023/sunsetting-opencensus/), +and the OpenTelemetry shims for OpenCensus have provided a stable migration +bridge for more than three years. + +This is a deprecation of specification requirements, not an immediate removal of +compatibility material and not a requirement to remove existing shim artifacts +right away. + +## What is changing? + +- OpenCensus compatibility requirements in the specification are deprecated. +- Implementing new OpenCensus compatibility is no longer required for new SDKs + or implementations. +- Existing OpenCensus shims MAY continue to be supported for backwards + compatibility during the deprecation period. +- New work should target native OpenTelemetry APIs, SDKs, and OTLP-based + workflows instead of introducing new OpenCensus dependencies. + +## Why now? + +OpenCensus was archived in July 2023, and ecosystem adoption has converged +around native OpenTelemetry APIs and OTLP-based workflows. The project also has +precedent for this staged approach from prior deprecation work, including the +[2023 sunset of OpenCensus repositories](/blog/2023/sunsetting-opencensus/), the +[Zipkin exporter deprecation](/blog/2025/deprecating-zipkin-exporters/) +([spec PR #4715](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4715)), +and the +[OpenTracing compatibility deprecation](/blog/2026/deprecating-opentracing-compatibility/) +([spec PR #4938](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4938)). + +## Timeline and policy + +- **Specification deprecation**: effective as of **June 2026**. +- **Earliest specification removal**: **no earlier than June 2027**, as stated + in the merged spec text. +- **Shim support**: existing OpenCensus shims will continue to receive + maintenance for at least one year, following + [OpenTelemetry's SDK stability guarantees](/docs/specs/otel/versioning-and-stability/#sdk-support). + +## What should users do? + +If you still depend on an OpenCensus shim, now is the right time to plan +migration to native OpenTelemetry APIs and SDKs. + +Start by reviewing: + +- [How to migrate to OpenTelemetry](/blog/2023/sunsetting-opencensus/#how-to-migrate-to-opentelemetry) + from the 2023 sunset announcement. +- The + [OpenCensus Compatibility specification — Migration path](/docs/specs/otel/compatibility/opencensus/#migration-path). +- The language-specific shims: + [Go](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-go/tree/928d4f3726bf08e5be046752ebae169ad9f9376a/bridge/opencensus), + [Java](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java/tree/a5cd87f127cd8d4e5845bc1e29360f815a6f01c8/opencensus-shim), + [JavaScript](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-js/tree/13a035bc695996cf4aec885fef7b9866f48bc555/experimental/packages/shim-opencensus), + and + [Python](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python/tree/51c1d1888c4045b8296e088fa307738685321bf3/shim/opentelemetry-opencensus-shim). + +## Closing + +Deprecation here does not mean removing OpenCensus compatibility material +immediately. It is about codifying that new SDKs and instrumentations should +target native OpenTelemetry APIs and OTLP, and aligning the specification with +where the ecosystem already is. + +Please share feedback or migration blockers on +[spec PR #5138](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/5138) +or the +[originating issue #5109](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/issues/5109). diff --git a/static/refcache.json b/static/refcache.json index 5fdb6b36cee6..67a85d6d754a 100644 --- a/static/refcache.json +++ b/static/refcache.json @@ -3727,6 +3727,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-12T11:04:56.303474251Z" }, + "https://github.com/Krishnachaitanyakc": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:08.182993115Z" + }, "https://github.com/LZiHaN": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-13T10:31:33.790141969Z" @@ -11007,6 +11011,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-15T11:39:27.078243663Z" }, + "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-go/tree/928d4f3726bf08e5be046752ebae169ad9f9376a/bridge/opencensus": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:18.643742738Z" + }, "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-go/tree/main/exporters/otlp": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-18T11:12:07.130813966Z" @@ -11859,6 +11867,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-16T11:23:29.439372943Z" }, + "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java/tree/a5cd87f127cd8d4e5845bc1e29360f815a6f01c8/opencensus-shim": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:23.491446874Z" + }, "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java/tree/main/api/incubator": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-13T10:26:12.547822485Z" @@ -12255,6 +12267,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-14T10:43:26.619525789Z" }, + "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-js/tree/13a035bc695996cf4aec885fef7b9866f48bc555/experimental/packages/shim-opencensus": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:27.459688716Z" + }, "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-js/tree/4636de6a16d338a418ee901ee6b685b887585c4f/doc/upgrade-to-2.x.md?from_branch=main": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-18T11:07:18.834059338Z" @@ -13083,6 +13099,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-16T11:22:23.614387244Z" }, + "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python/tree/51c1d1888c4045b8296e088fa307738685321bf3/shim/opentelemetry-opencensus-shim": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:32.35863456Z" + }, "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-python/tree/main/docs/examples/auto-instrumentation": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-12T10:57:05.867328995Z" @@ -13607,6 +13627,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-12T10:56:57.110183472Z" }, + "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/issues/5109": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:39.346353272Z" + }, "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/issues/617": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-13T10:25:09.036109281Z" @@ -13647,6 +13671,10 @@ "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-13T10:25:07.326355042Z" }, + "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/5138": { + "StatusCode": 206, + "LastSeen": "2026-06-19T13:05:14.735403969Z" + }, "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/tree/main/oteps/#readme": { "StatusCode": 206, "LastSeen": "2026-06-15T11:38:05.704853817Z"